The office of Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Marilyn Mosby has filed a formal FCC complaint against local news station WBFF, requesting an investigation into the Fox News-affiliated network’s broadcasting and media practices.
The office’s communications director Zy Richardson wrote the complaint letter to the FCC, stating that WBFF has committed “heinous” acts in the name of journalism.
The letter acknowledges FCC rules that “[b]roadcasters may not intentionally distort the news” and “rigging or slanting the news is [deemed] a most heinous act against the public interest.”
“WBFF is committed to journalism in the public interest with its award-winning investigative unit being a key part of delivering on that commitment,” reads a statement from The Sun from Billy Robbins, vice president and general manager of WBFF. “While we understand that it’s not always popular with the individuals and institutions upon which we are shining a light, we stand by our reporting.”
“I have noted that the news coverage of the WBFF persistently follows a disconcerting and dangerous pattern,” reads part of the letter. “Beginning with a slanted, rigged, misleading, or inflammatory headline; followed by a conspiracy theory; and supported with guest commentary from disgruntled ex-employees or political opponents that lend false credibility to their biased coverage or omission of facts.”
In the complaint letter, Richardson broke down his numbers of stories by local stations on Mosby. Richardson numbers state WBFF did 248 stories on Mosby and her office during the course of 2020, compared to 46 by WJZ, 26 by WBAL, and 10 by WMAR.
“To be clear, the State’s Attorney’s Office is not above receiving criticism,” reads another part of the three-page letter. “We welcome being held accountable, and we support First Amendment freedom of speech. However, what we find troubling, abhorrent, and outright dangerous, is that the distinctly relentless slanted broadcast news campaign, against the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and its lead prosecutor, has the stench of racism.”
